The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Joey doesn’t fail to shoot the deer because of “buck fever”—the jitters that often accompany a novice hunter’s first trip—he just plumb doesn’t want to kill it. He’d rather draw it than shoot it, but he knows his father, an umpteenth-generation hunter who’s been waiting for his son’s first Opening Day for 12 years, will never get it. Willis throws a lot at Joey: His father doesn’t understand him, his mother has lost herself in her second career as an art buyer and is traveling more than she’s home, his schoolwork is suffering and he can’t figure out how he can please everyone—his father, his hockey teammates and the artist who lives next door and is dying to mentor him. Joey’s first-person, present-tense narration never feels quite natural, although his panic at trying to resolve his conflicting obligations and desires rings true. While this is ultimately yet another father-and-son-resolve-expectations story, its rural Pennsylvania hunting-community milieu sets it apart—just don’t expect kids who hunt to want to read it, because it’s not for them. (Fiction. 10-14)

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.